Feline infectious peritonitis, once invariably fatal, is now treatable with antiviral medication representing one of the greatest welfare advances in feline medicine.
The development of effective antiviral treatment for FIP represents one of the most transformative welfare advances in recent feline veterinary medicine. A diagnosis of FIP previously meant a rapid, painful death. Now, with appropriate antiviral treatment, over 85% of cats achieve sustained remission and can live normal healthy lives. The welfare significance is enormous: FIP primarily affects young cats (under 2 years), meaning successful treatment restores full productive lifespans to animals that were previously condemned to suffering and death within weeks. Access to treatment remains a welfare challenge - antivirals are expensive, and while veterinary-licensed options are increasingly available, cost barriers prevent some owners from accessing treatment.